Watercolour Tip from PETER WOOLLEY: The Milky Way

[@dudy8736]

Thank you, Peter. Your honesty makes you great. Someone said, "The wisest people are mistakes experts."

[@glorious5389]

You not only teach to paint, but also create a story to follow with your voice in off. Your sense of humor also adds an always welcome ingredient to the telling of the story. Your humility is also a value. Thank you very much and God bless you.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

You're very welcome Glorious - thank you for the lovely comments - I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@sarahbell4344]

It was useful and heartening to see that you sometimes have things that don’t work out as planned. Gives one hope to keep on persevering. Thank you Peter. No 3 obviously the best👍🏻

[@janeschommer8328]

I love how that turned out. I can see we all might need a lot of preparation for various art pictures. I am impressed.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks Jane; I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@mariapazaristeaguirre4491]

The third is the winner. Thanks

[@CristianeMarino]

I like the fact that you showed all the process, thank you!

[@ajayanand2]

Hi Peter, your way of presenting it in simple steps makes you a good teacher. I have learnt a lot after watching your videos.

[@MsCuisle]

I love your humour, as well as your humility, and your beautiful artwork. Thank you so her much.

[@susanrasdale2983]

thanks for showing us your 'mistakes'! It's very encouraging to beginners to know that paintings don't always work first time. :)

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks Susan - I'm pleased you enjoyed it! Watercolour always has the power to surprise and frustrate with equal measure.

[@allisonjames2923]

Thank you for keeping in the learning process. It’s so valuable to see a really good artist have things not go according to plan & to try new approaches

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Failure is all part of the process Allison - the challenge is being able to learn from it... thanks for the great comment!

[@hughs2139]

Thank you Peter. That was incredibly helpful and encouraging to watch the journey. To state the obvious, you often learn most by trying (or seeing) what doesn't work best. Great tutorial, and great result

[@rewtnode]

Fantastic. You’re doing us a great favour. Showing all the screwups is more important than showing the success. Something to learn here.

[@davelawday6609]

🤣 that was brilliant..thanks Peter... the final result was great...love your stuff.. kind regards Dave 😁👍👍👍👍

[@pedroroman6410]

Thank you very much for showing the whole process, including the parts that didn’t go well at first but helped to achieve an amazing picture.

[@mariwyl]

Amazing!!! And as a new student to watercolor it was good to hear it's a constant learning curve. 😊

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks for that Mary Ann. You're right about the constant learning curve... it's part of the fun of watercolour, though! Sometimes you just have to step outside your comfort zone.

[@caroledoerr6872]

I appreciate you talking about your journey and your experiments. It has reduced my fear of the unknown when it comes to painting. This is a very helpful mind set. Thank you Peter.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks for the comment Carole - I'm pleased you found the demonstration helpful - watercolour painting should always be fun and kept in perspective.

[@Britgirl58]

I adore your presentation method - how you are able to share your journey to getting a finished painting that you like and feel is just right. It certainly helps me, as a viewer and beginner, to see the teacher can still struggle to achieve their vision, just as I do. Thank you!

[@VoidloniXaarii]

thank you for sharing all the process including the dead ends! fascinating

[@zenaidamateos9376]

Thank you sooooo much. Wonderful gift for us to share all the process.

[@jelketa]

I love this experiment, beautiful result Peter, thanks for showing it.

[@nancyseymour6107]

I am so glad to see this. My sky went the same way, 3 to5 attempts. Thank you

[@maggs131]

Beautiful lesson as always, so many so called tutorials are just someone painting which has value but not much compared to this. Mistakes teach us as much as successes. Mr Woolley you should pursue a daytime TV slot as I believe would be an instant hit. Thank you so much again

[@imjandoe]

thank you for sharing your experience! it's very useful.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks Jan - I'm pleased you enjoyed it

[@orchidana6804]

Lovely❤❤❤

[@isabelpatchett9356]

Hello Peter, thoroughly enjoyed this video, a lot of laughs along with you and a great lesson (or should I say four lessons in one 3 on not what to do and a success) quite a bit of learning here Peter I am definitely going to give this one a try, I have not been game enough to try it before but why not!! Thanks for sharing once again, Isabel

[@RattaBagatta]

amazing work and beautiful voice :)

[@cyndihagerty8261]

Thank you SO very much for sharing such an honest process video!

[@stramashtheboardgame6261]

Brilliant! I’m definitely going to give this a go. Thanks for the excellent tips, Peter. ✨✨✨

[@peterwoolleyartist]

You're very welcome Stramash the Board Game... good luck with your own attempt!

[@connieehrhardt1666]

Hello Peter, It has been sometime and I have waited for you to do the Milky way. Outstanding. I remember asking you to do it. Thanks so much. wonderful. I remember showing you my milky way and our styles are very different. I do love your idea and the way you approached it. Wonderful learning experience. Hoping your remember me. Thank you again. Connie

[@peterwoolleyartist]

I do remember you Connie, and I remember that it was your suggestion that prompted my attempts... so it's all your fault! As it turns out, I enjoyed the challenge, so many thanks for that... and I'm pleased you enjoyed the results. Cheers, Peter

[@connieehrhardt1666]

@@peterwoolleyartist Your most welcome. Always love a challenge. I have been working in graphite a bit and have found an amazing artist that I think you will admire as as well. The link is www.designswan.com/archives/incredible-pencil-drawing-winter-scene-by-guram-dolenjashvili.html. I hope you enjoy his work as much as I did, I only wish I could learn his technique. Thank you again and cheers to you as well. Connie

[@crystalheart9]

I really enjoyed this, especially seeing your experiments with different techniques. It turned out gorgeous!

[@paivitee]

You are an amazing artist.

[@amiek9269]

Stunning and I love your voice/voiceover. Thx

[@freyajayne3623]

Really loved this video, thanks Peter!

[@peterwoolleyartist]

You're very welcome Freya - I'm pleased you enjoyed it - thanks for the comment.

[@markdonovan1540]

Hilarious, yet full of insight and so helpful to see a professional artist make similar mistakes to us beginners. However, the experienced hand shows great ingenuity in recovering some mistakes and analysing how and why things went wrong. This too is all part of the wonderful watercolour journey which I only began about 2 years ago. My first attempt, and until now only one, to paint a galaxy in the night sky turned out to look like weird fried eggs in a rectangular frying pan....

[@rebanelson607]

I bought a bottle of masking fluid a few months ago an it gave me new courage to continue with watercolor painting. (Masking fluid is probably NOT what most people think of as "courage in a bottle" but it worked for me!) I don't draw well but I have become rather adept at masking. Fine spatters look dramatic in a deep cobalt blue comet tail. This video was hilarious and instructive. Many thanks!

[@peterwoolleyartist]

'Courage in a Bottle'... I like that, Reba - masking fluid is perfect for certain jobs, but I hardly ever use it on a regular basis - this particular project was something a little bit different. Thanks for the great comments!

[@franciemarshall6952]

Hi Peter. Have just subscribed to your channel, as I think your videos are very clear to understand and you speak clearly for this girl with hearing loss. Nice to know you make muckups and turn your pieces over haha. I use mucked up paintings reversed as a tester for watercolour intensity before putting to paper. Great videos. Thanks Peter. Learning heaps. Francie 👍🙂

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks for the comment and the subscribe, Francie - I'm pleased you enjoyed it!

[@AllanEngelhardt0]

Brilliant video. I really enjoyed going with you on this journey of exploration and experimentation. (If I ever have to do it, I think I'll "cheat" and go with gouache or even acrylics. I don't fancy my chances with the latex. But you have inspired me to give it a try. Now I just need a big sheet of plastic to cover my work area. And probably another to cover me....)

[@izakpolman6280]

Thank you for sharing.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks Izak, you're very welcome.

[@mbader9273]

Love this. Glad you soldiered on.

[@carolpetersen9834]

Great background music with the one.

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks Carol - it's always nice to see the music getting a bit of a shout-out.

[@ullazitabinder2091]

wonderful to be able to learn from other's mistakes :) Thank you

[@peterwoolleyartist]

You're very welcome - thanks for the comment.

[@annikaglavstedt5588]

Thank you for sharing! 🙏🏼😍🙏🏼

[@peterwoolleyartist]

You're very welcome, Annika - I'm pleased you enjoyed it - thank you for the comment , and the lovely bright icons!

[@annevanderwoude9319]

Thank you so much I stumbled upon your video I like it you really explain it thanks again

[@joellest-jean3086]

merci pour cette belle leçon mon ami...! bravo! du Québec... ;)

[@wolfgangflink8546]

Great. Thank you very much. It was very helpfull.

[@Mallawany]

det er flink, tusen takk!

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Takk Ahmed. Jeg er glad du likte det.

[@mariapeagler2667]

Peter - I really enjoyed seeing all three versions of your painting, even the first two that weren't as successful. So much of watercolor is trying & failing, and I find I need to paint a scene repeatedly before I'm content with it. Will we get a project of this in our online classes?

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Hi Maria. I'm pleased you enjoyed the demonstration. Yes, the subject will be added as a full project to the online service very soon. Cheers, Peter

[@johncspine2787]

Pearlescent silver spattered makes excellent stars..

[@peterwoolleyartist]

That'll work too - thanks for the tip John!

[@elflordsjourneys]

Thanks peter,it's always nice to learn from other people's mistakes and from someone whose been down the road ahead of you.I was thinking of painting some fireworks and this technique might help with that, what kind of masking fluid did you use?

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Thanks ELJ. You may find this helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/paG1f3mCdtGhkJY. The masking fluid I used was SAA Blue Mask.

[@judymiller975]

Hi, why can't you spatter the stars after its dry with acrylic?

[@peterwoolleyartist]

No reason at all, Judy - in fact, that would probably work a treat... I don't work with anything other than watercolour, though, and I was trying to find a solution that didn't mix media.

[@judymiller975]

@@peterwoolleyartist yeah, I kinda figured out the mixed media thing after I sent your message. Anyway... I think your splatter was too watered down and could you tape the paper onto a wall to stop the drips. Cheers from Australia.

[@annettefournier9655]

Lol. I just did the same painting 5 times. I like the 4th one best, my sister #3, my grandson #2 and my daughter #5. 🤣🤣🤣

[@makkra7565]

Thank you for sharing good experience and not so good, to avoid for us in future

[@tombombadillo1]

Unsure why masking fluid is seen as more watercolour purist than white gouache :/

[@sonjabrockman3978]

Hayden Muscat you

[@birjeeshussain6106]

I really enjoyed watching the process. I tried it the first time and it came out okay. I tried it a second time and it came out okay. But my 3rd, 4th 4nd 5th tries have been a complete disaster. What a waste of my paper 😂 For some reason I can't even get the mix of burnt umber ultramarine blue and crimson alizarin right either. May I ask what size paper you used, Peter?

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Great to hear you had a go at this, Birjees - mixed results are par for the course, though - in answer to your question, my paintings were on 1/8 imperial-sized paper (or roughly 11 inches x 7 inches).

[@birjeeshussain6106]

@@peterwoolleyartist @peterwoolleyartist thank you Peter. I really appreciate you replying. I love, watching this video. It's amazing how you got it in the end. And to be honest. Your first two attempts were very good too. I'll keep trying and practising

[@birjeeshussain6106]

@@peterwoolleyartist sorry Peter I have another question if I may. Is your paper stretched before wetting it. I notice it's not buckling. Mine is buckling terribly making the washes puddle in so many places

[@peterwoolleyartist]

@@birjeeshussain6106 I don't stretch my paper because of its weight - 200lbs Saunders Waterford Rough. If you're using 140lbs or lighter then I would certainly recommend stretching it (or switch to a heavier paper if you can), which would reduce the cockling (or buckling, as you called it).

[@birjeeshussain6106]

@@peterwoolleyartist thank you Peter

[@FREEMAN....]

Without the wrong reflection, it would have been perfect. It's beautiful anyway. Thanks 👍

[@safwansai8975]

thank you . you are mastar

[@robertg786]

Thanks for those mistakes. Now we don't have to reinvent the wheel. Now go have a cup of tea or take a nap.

[@coolabah-blue]

👨🏻‍🎨👍Maybe salt would’ve worked 😳

[@peterwoolleyartist]

Maybe.... the stars would remain a challenge, though. Actually, salt would be great for painting a nebula...